Marion County Church Histories

Ocklawaha Bridge Baptist Church

Donated by Susan McCue

Part III

It was decided at our January 1991 church conference that we A donate our old hymnals to the “Springs Resort” at Silver Springs upon the arrival of our new 1991 Baptist Hymnals.

Various members of the church donated their time to do much  needed interior painting of the church in March and April 1991.

Church member, ZoAnn Johnson, was hired as part-time youth director, June 1991. The youth meet on Wednesday evenings for Bible study, devotion, prayer, instruction and recreation. They have choir practice on Sunday afternoon. The youth have held several successful dinner-theatres, yard sales and T-shirt sales to raise money for their summer retreats. The summer retreats have proven to be a blessing to both the youth and their leaders as souls are being saved and other life-changing decisions being made during this retreat week. The youth also participate in the “See You at the Pole” event each year.

An interesting spectacle occurred on Vacation Bible School Graduation night, July 10, 1991, with Pastor Jimmy Snell and Deacon Hal McDonell singing from the rooftop of the church as they promised to do if VBS enrollment reached 100. That goal was broken with a total enrollment of 153. There were five decisions to accept Jesus as Savior as a result of VBS 1991.

In September 1991 the Deacon Body recommended that a long-range planning committee be organized by the church to recommend to the congregation comprehensive plans for the future giving its attention to the continuing needs of our church within a future scope of three to five years. This committee will consist of the officers of the church council.

On October 1991 the Royal Ambassador program was reorganized under the leadership of several dedicated men of the church. Out of an enrollment of 100 approximately 25 meet once a week for missions study and activities. The RA Chapter is named for our local missionaries, Lloyd and Connie Rodgers, who are currently serving in Venezuela. The RA’s participate in community missions by assisting in raking, cutting wood, cemetery mowing and cleaning. The boys and their leaders have enjoyed various activities together each as RA Conference, camping trips, derby and track meets, basketball and naval base trips.

Church member Arthur Anderson, for the benefit of shut-ins, began a videotape ministry January 1992.

At the April 1992 church conference the wheels were set in motion to begin the process of renovating the sanctuary including new carpeting, upholstery and lighting. The baptistery will also be included in the proposed improvements.

August 1992, Bruce Hallman transported donated goods to South Florida for those in need after the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. Also, 105 health kits made by the WMU were sent to the hurricane victims.

The Special Services (benevolence) committee stays busy serving he needy in our community with bags of groceries, gas purchase orders, help with rent and utilities and serving meals to families after funerals.

The church office was modernized November 1992, with the purchase of a Packard Bell computer.

Former pastor, Raymond Estes, and his wife Clara, rejoined the church by letter from First Baptist Church of McIntosh, on Feb.16, 1993. Rev. Estes became the church’s first associate pastor Oct. 4, 1993.

Four new deacons were ordained June 6, 1993,

Keith Owen	Steve Clare
Howard Nutter	Todd Spicher

Lloyd and Connie Rogers, missionaries to Venezuela, led services July 1993, relating many interesting things concerning their ministry there.  Connie is the daughter of T. C. and Bobby Grant, long time members of Ocklawaha Baptist Church.

The adult Discipleship Training Department, led by Julie Davis, enjoyed a retreat at Bulow Resort near Flagler Beach July 1993. Many have been blessed from the study “Experiencing God” which was begun in the 1994/95 church years. An award from the Florida Baptist Convention was given to Ocklawaha Bridge for 285 credit hours, which was credited to this course. This was the most study hours in the Marion Baptist Association.

The children’s’ ministry was enhanced September 1993, with the installation of playground equipment which is greatly enjoyed on frequent occasions.

The oldest building on the grounds, known as Building “A”, was renovated October 1993, with new carpeting, paneling and painting. It is much improved.

On October 28, 1993, Ocklawaha Bridge Baptist Church -hosted the annual meeting of the Marion Baptist Association.

After eleven years of productive service, Martie Ansorge, music director, resigned effective December 20, 1993.

The “Care and Share” program, a ministry of the Senior Adults, has served many needy people of the community since its inception in 1987. Besides serving the needy on a weekly basis with clothes and household goods, they have organized an annual “Back to School give-away which provides many school children with clothes and supplies. Also, they have a “Christmas give-away” serving as many as 700 individuals.

The Forest area now has several churches of different faiths. Once a year we come together shortly before Christmas for an Ecumenical Choir Service. This is usually held at Ocklawaha Bridge as we have the largest sanctuary. This is a good time of fellowship and singing with our sisters and brothers in Christ from the different faiths.

A new and much larger church sign was installed at the entrance to the church April 1994.

As money for the renovations came in the first priority was to install nine new cylindrically shaped lights, which greatly improved the lighting in the sanctuary? This was accomplished October 1994.

John and Lorraine Nordmeyer, missionaries to Africa, spoke about their work in that country on the evening of October 29, 1994. They are missionaries through the Campus Crusade for Christ program. Lorraine is a former member of Ocklawaha Bridge.

Dr. John Sullivan, Executive Director of the Florida Baptist Convention, conducted an Associational Prayer Retreat at Ocklawaha Bridge on October 29, 1994.

Renovation plans to the sanctuary moved ahead with improvements being made to the baptistery December 1994. The old curtains were removed and vertical blinds installed which included a motorized closing and Opening of the blinds. Also, a beautiful mural was placed in the baptistery background.

In 1994 a much needed turn-off lane at the church entrance making it much safer improved the highway in front of the church.

Our transportation needs were improved with the purchase of a good used van January 1995.

The Women’s Missionary Union (WMU) meets every first Wednesday of each month to set goals for mission awareness, mission activities, and mission projects. The WMU sponsors Thanksgiving baskets for the needy in the community and fruit baskets for the homebound. Christmas, 1994, over 400 ditty bags were made by the WMU, also for the needy in the community. These bags include hygiene articles and gospel tracts. Another project in 1994-95 was a paper shower for the Lakeland Children’s Home, which was delivered; by a group of WMU members and other interested church members. Dr. Hugh and Rebbeca McKinley, missionaries to Africa, were the guest speakers at the 1994. Christmas Lottie Moon Banquet.

Some changes will be taking place in the WMU beginning 1995 – 1996. After 81 years of service the well-known Royal Service magazine will be replaced by a publication called Mission Mosaic.  Also, Baptist Women and Baptist Young Women will be replaced with name Women on Mission.

Girls in Action, the church’s mission organization for girls in grades 1-6, meet each week to study missions and enjoy related activities.

Acteens, the church’s mission organization for girls in grades 7-12, are busy, actively discovering and meeting needs in the community. They also have been involved in Home and Foreign Missions.

Baptist Men, the men’s mission organization of the church, have been meeting monthly for fellowship and mission related discussion. Brother Bob Hilts served as director of the Baptist Men for many years, leading the men in a prison ministry that -included taking Sunday School literature to the jail every quarter and purchasing Mother’s Day cards for the inmates use. Also, 1,000 Christmas cards were bought by the Baptist Men and taken to the Lowell Correctional Institute for the inmates use. This ministry has touched many hearts and lives. There have been community mission’s projects accomplished by the Baptist Men also.

Julie Davis is serving as interim music director until such time a music director will be called.

The Homebound ministry has been very active and involved bringing cheer to those who are unable to attend worship services. En addition to visiting in private homes, they visit the Forest Retirement Home and the Gill Retirement Home every two weeks where they conduct Bible study and sing songs of praise. The Homebound teachers also visit several of the nursing homes in the Ocala area once or twice a month taking Christian literature and the Church bulletin. In addition, they make certain that no homebound person is forgotten on their birthdays and at Christmas.

The oldest member of our church is Mrs. Kate Randall who celebrated her 97th birthday on July 29, 1995. She has been a member of Ocklawaha Bridge Baptist Church for 65 years and still attends regularly.

Sunday School enrollment as of September 1, 1995, stands at 465~ with an average attendance of 199.

There have been 104 baptisms from 1991 until Sept. 1, 1995.

As we anticipate the year 2000, we pause to reflect and remember the accomplishments of the past 140 years at Ocklawaha Bridge Baptist Church, yet feel compelled to strive even more diligently to work toward that eternal goal as we approach the next century. God’s richest blessings have been ours. May we prove to be worthy of them?

This history compiled by the Church Historical Committee, consisting of Mr. Richard Mills (Chairman), Gaston Stallings, Nuby Shealy, Jerry Fairchild, Kathryn Fairchild, and Fay Holly Rogers.

 A note from Pastor Jimmy Snell:

History is being made each day we serve our Lord. The future for Ocklawaha Bridge Baptist Church promises rich blessings and many experiences with God as we learn more of His will and continue to involve ourselves in His work. Our prayer is that the history we make today will include you as a disciple tomorrow.

Serving Him Now,
Pastor: Jimmy Snell